Queens view

Last updated : 09 November 2014 By Fargone

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From the Queens Park website:  http://www.queensparkfc.co.uk/?p=8441

It had the makings of one of those daft days. We hadn’t won a league game on that funny stuff called grass since Homer had a driving licence without penalty points on it,

Arbroath were coasting towards a league title and had almost forgotten what it was to taste defeat.

The bookies, and any sane person, would have had it down as a home banker … but what do the bookies know about Queen’s Park?

This unique football club has been rewriting the rules since it helped write the rules almost 150 years ago.And it still has the capacity to surprise, delight – and exasperate its followers, all in the one afternoon.

The surprises began today with the announcement of the Queen’s line-up. Gus MacPherson decided to ring the changes after the disappointment against Albion Rovers, replacing McElroy and McPherson in the starting XI with Burns and Carter.

Vinnie Berry, who copped a sore one last week and might be out of action for some time, was replaced by our latest loan signing, Pat Slattery from Queen of the South.

Those of you who have experienced the delight of Arbroath’s home ground will know that it can be a bit breezy, and that the Gayfielders have a nasty knack of using the conditions to their advantage.

Under the circumstances, therefore, conventional wisdom said Queen’s would have to be on their toes to cope with early pressure from the league leaders.  Since when did conventional wisdom have anything to do with the Spiders?

Sixty seconds in, Shaun Rooney skipped down the right flank like a demented gazelle, fired in a delicious cross which Carter stepped over at the near post and Fraser was left with a tap in at the far post to put us
1-0 ahead.  It was a start beyond our wildest dreams, but it also meant there were still almost 89 minutes for the home side to hit back.

They tried to react immediately, and the hearts were in the mouth when McManus went down in the box. Thankfully nothing was given and Queen’s regrouped. After 10 minutes, the dangerous Bobby Linn had his first glimpse of goal after a driving run. His shot was charged down by McGregor before it could threaten Muir. It was no surprise that the home side were enjoying a lot of possession, but couldn’t turn half chances into anything concrete.

For their part, Queen’s were looking good on the counter attack and could have made it two after 16 minutes, but Burns powerful shot was well claimed by Morrison in the home goal.  Rooney looked in the mood to cause mayhem on the flanks, and twice within the space of a couple of minutes, he created crossing opportunities for himself. Both times, however, the cross failed to match the build-up play.

Midway through the half, the home side screamed for another penalty as Linn went down. Again, the appeal fell on deaf ears and the winger was in fact booked moments later after going to ground just a shade too easily.

It was already a good game, and the home side showed their menace when they won a series of corners. Nothing came of the chances, but we were under a bit of pressure as the game passed the half-hour mark.
Linn shot straight at Muir when he might have done better and then Murray fired over from a good position.

Queen’s were still a real threat on the break and Rooney went close with a shot from distance after yet another powerful run. Woods was next to threaten, but lost control at the vital moment.

The final five minutes of the half saw Queen’s at their dogged best. Firstly McGregor and Gibson threw themselves into challenges to block McManus – and then Slattery produced the timeliest of interceptions to deny Linn and ensure we reached the sanctuary of the dressing room with a one-goal lead.

Half Time; Arbroath 0 Queen’s Park 1

The second half began with the rain arriving and what looked like a tough afternoon suddenly became all the more challenging.

Three minutes after the break came our next test as Murray won a foul right on the edge of our box. Linn got his effort beyond the wall, but found only the waiting arms of keeper Muir.

Darren Miller is never one to shy away from having a crack at goal and he got his chance when Queen’s won a free-kick of their own. It looked far too far away from goal for a shot, but Miller fired in an superb effort that required a tremendous save from Morrison.

That set the pattern for the rest of the afternoon. The home side carved out a succession of half-chances, which Queen’s repelled – while at the same time we looked dangerous going forward on the break.

McGregor did well to head away a Linn corner with Nicoll waiting to pounce, before Muir needed two attempts to finally grasp a Hunter shot.
Miller then stung the hands of Morrison before we reached one of those defining moments.

There were 58 minutes on the clock when just for once our defence was split apart. McManus had to score – but somehow fired high, wide (and from a Queen’s point of view at least) very handsomely over with the goal at his mercy.  The miss was followed by the first change of the afternoon, with Murray being replaced by Buchan.

The pattern remained the same, however, with the home side pulling out all the stops in their quest for an equaliser.

It should have arrived after 67 minutes, but again McManus missed the target when he would have expected to at least test Muir.  We were under the cosh at this stage and coach MacPherson tried to change things a bit by replacing Burns with Fotheringham. Arbroath made their second change, hooking former Spider Ricky Little in favour of Smith.

Queen’s enjoyed a couple of good moments as the game neared the last 15 minutes. Miller was denied again by the alert Morrison as the midfielder tried his luck from about 25 yards. And then Rooney set off again down the flank, but this time Morrison was equal to the dangerous cross.

Back came Arbroath, and McGregor had to get his timing right when he slid in to tackle sub Smith. He did – and still we remained ahead.

The Gaffer made his second change with 11 minutes to go, replacing Woods with McElroy – and within seconds, we were two up.  As a manager, you want your subs to make an impact. Well, he couldn’t have asked for much more on this occasion. McElroy was involved in the build-up before Carter knocked the ball across goal to Fotheringham.
The replacement simply had to score … and did – although his shot was just a little bit too close to clearing the bar for this old scribe’s blood pressure.


The winger would say he was just making sure the keeper didn’t stop the ball and the sight of it smacking into the roof of the net sparked jubilant scenes from the travelling band on the terracing.

Naturally, with the game now looking “safe” Queen’s went to sleep two minutes later and allowed McManus to drift in unmarked at the far post and nod a cross past Muir to make the score 2-1.

Queen’s were determined not to throw this one away and buckled down for what were sure to be an anxious final few minutes.  McElroy and then Hunter were booked as the clock ticked down.


Just when it looked as if we would complete the job without too many real scares, we gave McManus a chance to become a hero. But thankfully, the striker couldn’t connect properly as the ball flew across our goal and the danger passed.


Carter was replaced by McPherson as the game entered stoppage time and although it seemed to take an eternity, referee Anderson finally blew the whistle to confirm a valiant victory for the Spiders.

There’s no denying we have come a long way in a short time after the misery of last term, and this was about as encouraging as it can get.
We’re off on our travels again next week when we once more have to encounter the delights of the A9 and its average speed cameras. But you know what, if we can make it two-in-a-row on grass and put more distance between ourselves and Elgin, then the journey will have been more than worth it.

Keep the Faith!

Queen’s Park: Muir, Rooney, Gibson, Slattery, Wharton, McGregor, Woods (McElroy), Miller, Carter (McPherson), Fraser, Burns (Fotheringham). Subs: Quinn, McVey, Mitchell, George (SK).